Container and closure structure



March 28, 1967 M. N. zALK ETAL 31,311,145

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l ooh INVENTORS,

ATTORNEYS March 28, 1967 M, N. ZALK ETAL 3,311,145

CQNTAINER AND CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed Aug.v 50. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR s, MAE/(M 2,40( /F///A WHC/l BY/ew www #MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,449 11 Claims. (Cl. 15G- 7) rIlhis invent-ion relates to containers and the closure means therefor, and more particularly to fla-t envelopetype bags or containers and snap fas-tener devices for the closures of such containers.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved container and fastening structure of the type described, whic-h is more easily and economically manufactured than comparable bags having applied metallic snap fasteners. Also, the contemplated use of a novel `one-piece flexible fastener element of molded or fabricated const-ructi-on affords a closure fastener which may be very readily applied to a plastic bag or envelope and Iwhich can be easily made in any desired col-or or ornamentation.

Another feature of novelty is the formation and attachment of the unitary interenga'ging snap fastener device with a projecting tongue such that it may function not only as a reinforcing means for the closure flap of the container but as a nger-piece or a handle tab for manipulation particularly in disengaging or opening the snap securing elements embodied therein.

Other features of novelty include the knurling and creasing o'f portions of the fastening element for better manipulation, certa-in modifications of the closure flaps and body portion of the container complementing the fastening element, and the provision of a certain stiffness and resiliency in the element itself tending t-o urge the closure toward open position when the snap securing parts are disengaged; and still further objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a View in perspective of an envelope-like bag or container embodying the principles of the invention, the closure and snap fastening device being in closed and secured condition;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the closure in open position, and the lower portion of the container sectioned, with an exaggerated thickness;

FIGURE 3 is a view in longitudinal medial section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE l, and with the opened positions of the closure parts indicated by broken lines;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing -a modified form of closure structure;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating in section the modified form of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 of a still further modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the latch or snap fastener device of this embodiment as applied to the closure portions of the container;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the combined snap fastener and linger-piece device which characterizes the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 6 an-d 7; and

3,311,145 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 ICC FIGURE 9 is a view in longitudinal cent-ral sect-ion o'f the device of FIGURE 8.

In the first illustrated embodiment the bag or envelope illustrating the general type'of container to which the invention is best applicable is indicated vat 10, and comprises preferably a flat envelope of very thin transparent texture made of some suitable kind of plastic composition such as, for example, ott the vinyl or polyethylene type. Thus, the envelope is well adapted to lreceive articles of merchandise, for example, notions and items of wearing apparel, and display them to good advantage in stores.

For example, the particular container used for illustrative purposes herein may be utilized to contain paired items such as house-slippers, scuffs, or the like; and lfor this purpose the bag or envelope illustrated at 10 is divided into two parallel compartments, by means of the line of welding indicated at 11 and effected by known means, for example, by heat treatment or the use of plastic solvent or cementing material, to secure the w-all panels 10a and lb together along the line 11. The compartments themselves are suggested at 12 and 13 in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

Of course, wit-hin the broader aspects of the invention the dividing securement feature 11 may be omitted, and lin any case it is preferred to terminate this line of attachment somewhat short of the closure end of the container as at 14.

The envelope 10 has its upper or front wall 10b terminating at 16, but t-he opposite or rear wall 10a i-s extended to provide a flap 15 which is adapted to be folded over the upper portions of the upper wall 10b as clearly shown in FIGURES l and 3.

The interlocking snap fastener device for eecting the desired closure of the flap 15 and securing it in closed position is given the general reference character 2d in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, and comprises a strip of plastic material of considerably thicker gauge than the material of which the envelope itself is made, and thus having a greater degree of stiffness, although of a quite resilient nature. This material can also be some type of vinyl or polyethylene plastic having the proper gauge and resiliency. The fastener device 20 is secured as by cementing or welding to the bottom wall 10a of the envelope including the Hap 15, and has a finger grip portion or tab 22 projecting beyond the edge of the flap 1S. A portion 24 while adhering to the inner surface of the back panel lila of the envelope underlies the medial portion of the upper panel.

The actual snap fastener interengaging elements of the device are constituted by the headed male projection 2S and the female portion 26. One construction of these interengaging parts is shown very clearly in the sectional view constituting FIGURE 3 of the drawings. T-he opening 28 in the part 26 is of course of a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the head of the part 25 and thus it requires some slight degree of force to engage the part 25 within the socketed snap part 26 and similarly to disengage the parts. It will be noted that the dimensions of the male part 25 and the raised socket portion 26 are such that the part 25 does not protrude and tend to puncture the rearward bag wall.

In order to make the part 26 accessible for interengagement with the part 25, an opening 29 is cut in the upper wall or panel 1Gb of the bag.

side of the element at 251.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent from FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the fastener device 2t) and flap being clearly shown in open position in FIGURE 2 and in the broken line showings in FIG- URE 3. To effect the closure the device 26 is bent along the intermediate portion 3i) and the male part 2.5 of the snap fastener feature snapped into the female part 26 whereupon the parts will occupy the closed position as 1 shown in FIGURE 1 and in the solid line sectional showing of the flap 15 of the envelope.

` In FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings a slightly modified version of the device is illustrated wherein the envelope 100 is provided with a bottom wall 1li-fia and an upper wall panel 10012, the termination of the bottom wall 10011 at 116 being lower down than the corresponding edge 16 of the previously described embodiment, this making for a longer fiap 115 and exposing both of the snap elements 25 and 26 for interengagement without the necessity of providing an opening such as that indicated at 29 in the earlier figures of drawing, Otherwise this embodiment is constructed and operated in the same way as the one earlier described. v

In FIGURES 6-9 of the drawings there is illustrated an envelope 200 having a lower wall panel 200e and an upper wall panel 20Gb, the upper wall panel terminating at 216 as in the embodiment first described and shown in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, leaving a fiap extension 215 at the upper end of the bottom panel 200:1. The novelty in this embodiment is involved in the peculiar and advantageous construction of the fastener device designated 220. In this case the male snap element 225 is provided with a bore of quite small caliber as shown at 225a through the element 225 which facilitates the yielding of this headed element in its application to the mating k member 226 which is of generally the same construction as in the other embodiments. The extended tab portion 222 of this fastener device is of a generally fiat construction but is knurled or otherwise roughened as indicated at 222a for facilitating the gripping of the projecting tab by the fingers of the user, either in supporting the bag or operating the fastening elements.

v f If desired, the tab 222a may be laid down fiat upon the fiap 215 and sealed or cemented thereto to provide further reinforcement to the edges of the flap.

Other refinements evidenced by this embodiment include the scoring of the member 220 as at the intermediate transverse line 250 and also upon the opposite The scoring at 250 is along the fold 230 of the ap 216, and the score line 251 is adjacent the extreme edge 215g of the fiap 215. Thus the finger tab portion 222 will tend to stand away from the device in a position to be somewhat more readily seized for opening the closure.

Another feature of this embodiment involves the holes 260 and 261 formed in the device 220 at equal distances upon opposite sides of the score line 250, so that they will register when the device is closed. If desired, these registering openings may be used to hang the envelope upon a peg or hook, and for this use, corresponding holes could be made in the panels 20011 and Zflfib and the flap 215, or holes could be punched in these thin areas by the hook or peg from which the device may be suspended.

By the use of plastic material for both the bag or envelope proper and the snap fastener device, these parts may be readily cemented or welded together, and the tough yet resilient nature of the fastener device makes possible the production of an integral member including the body portions of the fastener as well as both of the interengaging snap fastener parts.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container and closure structure comprising a bag including a front wall and a rear wall, said rear wall extending beyond said front wall at the closure end of the bag to provide an extended flap adapted to fold along a transverse fold line over said front` wall to provide a closure for the mouth of the bag; a closure fastener member extending longitudinally of the bag and secured along both the fiap extension and the adjacent body portion of said rear wall and adapted to be itself folded transversely along substantially the same line of fold as the flap when the closure is effected; and interengageable snap fastener parts on said member one upon either side of said transverse fold line and adapted to snap into engagement with each other when the closure flap and the attached fastener member are folded to cl-osed position.

2. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim I in which the folding of said closure flap is effected along a fold line outwardly of the extreme edge of the front wall and the inward one of said snap fastener parts is positioned outwardly of said extreme edge, whereby the snap fastening is accomplished entirely exteriorly of said rear wall.

3. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the folding of said closure fiap is effected fected along a line adjacent to the extreme edge of the front wail, and the inward one of the snap fastener parts is positioned inwardly of said extreme edge, and an opening :is provided in the front wall through which the interengagement of the snap fastener parts may be effected.

4. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said closure fastener member is extended beyond the extreme outward edge of the closure ap to provide a finger tab for grasping in effecting the opening and closing of the ap and interengagement of the snap fastener parts.

5. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 4 in which transverse score lines are applied to said closure fastener member at its said fold line and also at the junction of the extended finger tab and the body of the member, the latter score line effective to permit bending of the member in the opposite direction from that for effecting the closure of the flap, whereby the finger tab tends to extend Aaway from the structure for easier grasping.

6. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 1 in which holes are provided through inward and outward portions of the closure fastener member, each at the same distance from the transverse fold line so that they are in substantial registry when cl-osure is effected, whereby said structure may be readily suspended from a peg -or equivalent support.

7. The container `and closure structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said closure fastener member is composed of a resilient plastic material of greater stiffness than the material of which the bag itself is composed, whereby when the fastener parts are released the member tends to resume its straight position and urge the flap toward open position.

8. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 7 in which said bag is composed of a plastic material of thin pliable consistency and the plastic closure fastener member is integrally secured to the rear wall and flap of the bag substantially throughout its area of contact therewith.

9. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 7 in which the respective interengaging snap fastener parts comprise male and female portions formed inte-- grally in the plastic member, the male portion having a head of somewhat greater diameter than the shank portion thereof, and the female portion having an opening of somewhat less diameter than the head of the male portion, the snap action of the interengaging parts being effected by the inherent resiliency of the plastic material of which the integral fastener member is composed.

10. The container and closure structure as set forth in claim 9 in which a hole of small caliber is formed through said closure fastener member axially of said male por- ,tion to slightly increase the compressibility of the latter to facilitate engagement and disengagement,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,992 11/1914 Fleming 229-78 1,405,636 2/1922 Stark 229-78 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examinar, 

1. A CONTAINER AND CLOSURE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A BAG INCLUDING A FRONT WALL AND A REAR WALL, SAID REAR WALL EXTENDING BEYOND SAID FRONT WALL AT THE CLOSURE END OF THE BAG TO PROVIDE AN EXTENDED FLAP ADAPTED TO FOLD ALONG A TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE OVER SAID FRONT WALL TO PROVIDE A CLOSURE FOR THE MOUTH OF THE BAG; A CLOSURE FASTENER MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BAG AND SECURED ALONG BOTH THE FLAP EXTENSION AND THE ADJACENT BODY PORTION OF SAID REAR WALL AND ADAPTED TO BE ITSELF FOLDED TRANSVERSELY ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LINE OF FOLD AS THE FLAP WHEN THE CLOSURE IS EFFECTED; AND INTERENGAGEABLE SNAP FASTENER PARTS ON SAID MEMBER ONE UPON EITHER SIDE OF SAID TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE AND ADAPTED TO SNAP INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE CLOSURE FLAP AND THE ATTACHED FASTENER MEMBER ARE FOLDED TO CLOSED POSITION. 